Combined shipping container, display holder and wall rack



M. ZIMMERS 3,081,868

COMBINED SHIPPING CONTAINER, DISPLAY HOLDER AND WALL RACK March 19, 1963 FIG. I

INVENTOR. MELVIN ZIMITERS fiat... i 4 2%.

ATTORNEYS M. ZIMMERS March 19, 1963 COMBINED SHIPPING CONTAINER, DISPLAY HOLDER AND WALL RACK Filed April 5, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS COMBINED SHIPPING CONTAINER, DISPLAY HOLDER AND WALL RACK Filed April 5, 1960 M. ZIMMERS March 19, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR- PIELVIN ZH'I NERS ATTOR/VJIYS United sees Patent 3,931,868 CGMBINED SLEEPING C(ENTAENER, DISPLAY HGLDER AND WALL RAQK Melvin Zinuners, New Rochelle, NY assignor to Superior Industries fiorperation, New York, FLY, a

corporation of New Fiied Apr. 5, 196-9, See. No. 20,130 4 Claims. (1. ass-45.14)

I have discovered an improved way of packaging all the necessary table tennis equipment for an entire set so that all the elements of the set are securely held in proper position during shipping, during the time the equipment is on display at the retailers, and during use by the customer as a wall rack.

My invention consists of a paperboard holder and display carton which has individual positions therein where the net, the net supports, the paddles and the balls are securely held. The inner carton includes a bottom panel, a rear panel and a front panel. The front panel is so formed that its upper part is against the rear panel and its lower part is spaced from the rear panel so as to form a sort of step construction. The space between the lower part of the front panel and the rear panel receives the handle of the paddles and the balls while the fiat striking faces of the panels, the net and the net supports are all located in front of the upper part of the front panel but do not extend outwardly beyond the plane of the lower part of the front panel. Thus, the entire inner carton and the table tennis equipment carried thereby can be easily packed and shipped in a rectangular outer container.

In order to permit the use of the inner carton as both a display holder by the retailer and as a wall rack by the customer, I provide on the lower part thereof an extendably stand construction formed from the paperboard of the rear panel and means on the upper part thereof for readily hanging the inner carton and its contents.

A further advantage to my invention emanates from the fact that the inner carton including the extendable support and the hanging means is formed from a single rectangular piece of paperboard by conventional cutting and scoring means.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

DESCRIPTION In the drawings wherein I have illustrated the best mode contemplated by me of carrying out my invention:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the flat blank from which the inner carton is formed;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the inner carton in partially erected form;

- FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of ti e fully erected inner carton;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the inner carton with the upper part broken away showing the initial step in extending the display support;

, FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the display support in fully erected position;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view showing the table tennis equipment in position in the inner carton;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the package shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the completed package prior to the closing of the upper flap of the outer carton.

For convenience of illustration all cut lines are illustrated by a single unbroken line, all fold lines in which the panels are to be folded toward the viewer of FIG. 1 are illustrated by dotted lines, and all fold lines in which the panels are to be folded away from the viewer of FIG. 1 are illustrated by a pair of adjacent unbroken lines.

Referring preliminarily to FIG. 1, the inner carton of my invention is formed from the blank shown therein and designated generally by the reference numeral It). The blank includes a bottom panel 11, a rear panel 12, an upper front panel 13, a lower front panel 14 and a connecting web 15 which connects upper front panel 13 and lower front panel 14. These panels are connected to each other through the illustrated fold lines. Poldably connected to upper front panel 14 are connecting flaps l6 and 17. Front flaps l8 and 19 which are connected by fold lines to lower front panel 14 have a length equal to the combined width of lower front panel 14 and connect ing web 15. They are separated from connecting web 15 and their respective connecting flap by suitable cut lines. Rear flaps 2i) and 21 are foldably connected to rear panel 12 and have bottom flaps Z2 and 23, respectively, hinged thereto. As can readily be seen from FIG. 1 the hinge lines between rear fiap 2d and bottom flap 22, as well as the hinge line between rear flap 21 and bottom flap 22, is aligned with the fold line connecting bottompanel 11 and rear panel 12-.

Hinged tabs 24 and 25 are out from upper front panel 13 and are adapted to be folded back on themselves about the illustrated fold lines. Connecting web 15 has two spaced cutout portions 26 and 27 formed therein which extend the entire Width thereof. Since the fold line connecting lower front panel 14 and connecting web 15 is broken adjacent cutout portions 26 and 27, supporting tabs 23 and 29, formed by the cut lines which also form cutouts 26 and 27, will be in the same plane as lower front panel 14 at all times. The construction 30 which permits the formation of a ball receiving pocket in lower front panel 14 includes three fold lines which, together with the portion of the fold line between bottom panel 11 and lower front panel 14 adjacent the two vertical fold lines, form a square. This square is split into four identical triangles by a pair of diagonal cut lines. Thus, inward pressure near the point of intersection of the di agonal cut lines results in the inward movement of the triangular pieces about their connections with lower front panel 14. They are held in their inwardly bent position by separate rectangular pieces of paperboard 31 and 32 which are foldable about the illustrated fold lines (see FIG. 6 for location of pieces 31 and 32 in the erected inner carton).

In order to permit use of the inner carton formed from the blank 10 as a display holder for use by the retailer to promote sales of the table tennis equipment contained therein, a table top support stand can be formed from the extendible stand construction designated generally by the reference numeral 33 in FIG. 1. Stand construction 33 is formed directly in rear panel 12 and includes a pair of spaced legs 34 and 35 hinged to rear panel 12 so that they can be folded inwardly towards each other. In order to hold the legs in an extended position where they are at an angle of approximately to the plane of rear panel 12, a generally semi-circular cutout panel 36 is provided. This cutout panel is located between legs 34 and 35 and extends into the inner part of each of the legs to form arcuate recesses therein. Cutout panel 36 is foldable about the illustrated fold line and has its semicircular edge relieved to form leg locking surfaces 37 and 38. Keyhole slots 3 and 49 are formed in the upper front panel and the rear panel, respectively, so that when the inner carton is erected they will be in superposed position thereby providing means for hanging the inner carton and its contents on the wall.

As I can be readily seen from an analysis of FIG. 1 and the foregoing description, the inner carton can be readily formed from a single rectangular piece of paperboard having a length equal to the combined length of the front and rear panels and the width of the bottom panel and the connecting web, and a width equal to the combined width of the two connecting flaps and the front panel. As will be obvious to one skilled in the art, all of the cutting and scoring operations illustrated in FIG. 1 and described above can be readily carried out by conventional cutting and scoring rollers or dies.

Erection of the Inner Carton Reference will now be made to FIGS. 2 and 3 which illustrate the erection of the inner carton from the blank of FIG. 1, described above. The first step involves the bending of the front and rear panels about their connecting fold lines to the bottom panel to a position where they are at an angle of approximately 90 to the bottom panel and are generally parallel to each other. During this step bottom flaps 22 and 23 are tucked between the front and rear panels and against the bottom panel. This is accomplished by first bending rear flaps 2d and 2-1 about their connections to rear panel 12 and then bending bottom flaps 22 and 23 about their connections with rear flaps 2t and 21, respectively. Front flaps l3 and 19 are then folded rearwardly against rear flaps 2t and 21, respectively, and attached thereto, as by stapling or any other suitable means. The fr'ont panel is then bent rearwardly about the fold line connecting the lower front panel to the connecting web and forwardly about the fold line connecting the upper front panel to the connecting web so that the connecting web is in a position generally parallel to the bottom panel, the upper front panel is against the rear panel, and the lower front panel is parallel to and spaced from the rear panel a distance equal to the width of the bottom panel. Panels 16 and 17 are then folded rearwardly and inwardly against the rear surface of rear panel 12 and are secured thereto, as by stapling or any other suitable means. After erection connecting web 15 is below the top edges of front flaps 18 and 19, and supporting tabs 28 and 29 extend above connecting web 15.

Setting Up of the Support Stand Reference will now be made to FIGS. 4 and which illustrate the setting up operation of the extendible stand 33. The first step involves the rearward and inward bending of legs 34 and 35, toward each other, about their connection to rear panel 12. Semi-circular cutout panel 36 is then rotated downwardly and rearwardly about its hinge connection to rear panel 12 until it is in a position approximately perpendicular to the plane of rear panel 12. The arcuate recesses in legs 34 and 35 permit such rotation. Due to the tendency of legs 34 and 35 to spring back against rear panel 12, the outer surfaces thereof engage leg locking surfaces 37 and 38, respectively, and are prevented from inadvertently moving outwardly be yond the point predetermined by the location of the leg locking surfaces. In order to return the stand to its nonextended position, semi-circular cutout portion 36 is rotated forwardly and upwardly against rear panel 12 thereby permitting legs 34 and 35 to snap back against rear panel 12. The bottom of legs 34 and 35 are tapered upwardly and rearwardly so that they will support the inner carton in a stable position with a rearward tilt from bottom to top.

The Package The location of the contents in the inner carton and the application of the outer cover 41 thereto will now be described by referring specifically to FIGS. 6 to 8, inclusive.

The set of table tennis equipment including four paddles 42 and net 43, a pair of net supports 44, and balls 45 are positioned in the inner carton as follows:

Net 43 is folded longitudinally so that its length is less than the width of upper front panel 13 and is then laid on upper front panel 13 and against the top surface of connecting web 15.

The handles of paddles 42 are then positioned in cutout portions 26 and 27, two in each cutout portion as can be seen from FIG. 7, so that the upper or striking surfaces thereof are in front and hold the net in position.

Hinged tabs 24 and 25 are bent under themselves and rotated to a position approximately perpendicular to upper front panel 13 so that the hinged tab is sandwiched between the supporting leg as and the screw clamp 47 of the net support 4 Legs 48 of net support 44 lie inside of front fiaps 18 and 19. Rotation of screw clamps 47 in a tightening direction securely lock the net supports in position.

Balls 45 are then wedged in ball receiving pocket 30. The configuration and size of ball receiving pocket can be suitably altered to support any desired number of balls.

As will be apparent from a consideration of FIGS. 6 and 7, the inner carton including the set of table tennis equipment makes a very convenient and attractive display package since all of the elements of the table tennis set are clearly visible. It is also clear that this package makes a convenient wall rack since the elements of the set can be readily removed from and replaced in the inner carton without disassembling or disturbing the inner carton construction.

Outer cover t} includes a bottom face (not visible in FIG. 8) having side faces 49 hinged thereto. Partial top faces 50 are hinged to side faces 49 and are adapted to lie in abutting relation. One end face (not visible in FIG. 8) hinged to the bottom face has an inner top flap 51 hinged there-to. Hinged to the other end of the bottom face is an end flap 52 including an end face 53, an inner top flap 54 and a partition tab 55. Partition tab 55 has a pair of spaced cutouts 56 formed in the free edge thereof.

The rear panel 12 of the filled inner carton is first laid on the bottom face of the outer cover (which is slightly larger than the rear panel 12); then the end face which is not visible in FIG. 8 is bent upwardly against bottom panel 11 and inner top flap 51 is bent against lower front panel 14; then side faces 49 are bent against front flaps 18 and 19 and partial topfaces 59 are bent over into abutting relation where they lie against inner top flap 51; end flap 52 is then rotated and bent around under itself so that cutouts 56 surround and engage screw clamps 47, whereby inner top flap 54 underlies partial top faces 50 and end face 53 and partition tabs 55 are parallel to each other and to the end face not visible in FIG. 8. The operation of end flap 52 thereby prevents collapse of this end of the outer cover due to lack of support. The outer cover can be secured in the described position by tape, glue, staples, or the like so that the completed package can be readily shipped.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used in a descriptive and not a limiting sense, and I have no intention of excluding such equivalents of the invention described, or of portions thereof, as fall within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A table tennis package comprising an inner paperboard carton having a step construction with a hollow compartment at its lower end and a set back upper surface, said hollow compartment having a pair of spaced openings in its upper face, a pair of supporting tabs extending upwardly from the front face of said hollow compartment and located directly in front of said spaced openings, and a pocket in the front face of said compartment located between said upper spaced openings, said inner carton including a rearwardly extendible support stand adjacent its bottom and means for hanging it in flush position on a wall adjacent its top; four table tennis paddles having their handles extending into said upper spaced openings,

two paddles being placed in each opening so that forward movement of their striking surfaces is prevented by said supporting tabs; a folded table tennis net located between the rear surfaces of the rear paddles and the front of set back upper surface; and a plurality of balls wedged into said pocket and supported thereby.

2. A table tennis package according to claim 1, further comprising end walls on the compartment extending upwardly above the upper face thereof, a pair of spaced hinged tabs extending from the set back upper surface and reversely bent under themselves, and a pair of L-shaped table tennis net supports having a clamping screw adapted to be moved toward and away from one of the legs of the L, each of said tabs being sandwiched between said one of the legs and the clamping screw of one of the net supports while the other leg thereof extends downwardly and has its free end located inside of the upward extension of the related end Wall.

3. A table tennis package according to claim 2, further comprising a tubular outer cover wrapped around the inner carton and the table tennis equipment contained therein, said outer cover having a three panel end flap ineluding a pair of spaced cutout portions in its free end, the panel having the cutout portions therein being rbent around and under the panel which forms the upper end of the outer cover so that said cutout portions surround the clamping screws of said net supports on three sides and the cutout containing panel rests on the top surface of said one of said legs of each of the net supports,

thereby preventing collapse of the upper end of the outer cover.

4. A table tennis package comprising an inner paper- 'board carton having a step construction with a hollow compartment at its lower end and a set back upper surface, said hollow compartment having a pair of spaced openings in its upper face, a pair of supporting tabs extending upwardly from the front face of said hollow compartment and located directly in front of said spaced openings, and a pocket in the front face of said compartment located between said upper spaced openings, said inner carton including means for hanging it in flush position on a wall adjacent its top; a plurality of table tennis paddles having their handles extending into said upper spaced openings, the paddles being placed in the openings so that forward movement of their striking surfaces is prevented by said supporting tabs; a folded table tennis net located between the rear surfaces of the paddles and the front of the set back upper surface; and a plurality of balls wedged into said pocket and supported thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,682,463 Anderson Aug. 28, 1928 2,159,887 'Darragh May 23, 1939 2,927,687 Sanford Mar. 8, 1960 2,983,368 Vander Lugt May 9, 1961 2,990,056 Gillam June 27, 1961 

1. A TABLE TENNIS PACKAGE COMPRISING AN INNER PAPERBOARD CARTON HAVING A STEP CONSTRUCTION WITH A HOLLOW COMPARTMENT AT ITS LOWER END AND A SET BACK UPPER SURFACE, SAID HOLLOW COMPARTMENT HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED OPENINGS IN ITS UPPER FACE, A PAIR OF SUPPORTING TABS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE FRONT FACE OF SAID HOLLOW COMPARTMENT AND LOCATED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF SAID SPACED OPENINGS, AND A POCKET IN THE FRONT FACE OF SAID COMPARTMENT LOCATED BETWEEN SAID UPPER SPACED OPENINGS, SAID INNER CARTON INCLUDING A REARWARDLY EXTENDIBLE SUPPORT STAND ADJACENT ITS BOTTOM AND MEANS FOR HANGING IT IN FLUSH POSITION ON A WALL ADJACENT ITS TOP; FOUR TABLE TENNIS PADDLES HAVING THEIR HANDLES EXTENDING INTO SAID UPPER SPACED OPENINGS, TWO PADDLES BEING PLACED IN EACH OPENING SO THAT FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THEIR STRIKING SURFACES IS PREVENTED BY SAID SUPPORTING TABS; A FOLDED TABLE TENNIS NET LOCATED BETWEEN THE REAR SURFACES OF THE REAR PADDLES AND THE FRONT OF SET BACK UPPER SURFACE; AND A PLURALITY OF BALLS WEDGED INTO SAID POCKET AND SUPPORTED THEREBY. 